Council Meeting - Regular Meeting

Call this evening's meeting of the planning commission to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic. Call this evening's meeting of the planning commission to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance and justice for all. Roll call, please. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic. Call this evening's meeting of the planning comm. Mr. Prescott to order. Please stand also. Mr. Basic. Roll call, please. Mr. Deulak, United States of America.

All right. Is there a motion? Call this evening's meeting of the planning committee. Mr. Prescott to order. Please stand. Mr. Wagner, Mrs. Chapto, Mr. Basic. Roll call, please. Mr. Duliaak. All right. Motion call this evening's meeting of the planning committee. Mr. Prescott to order please. Mr. Wagner, Mr.

An Mr. Uh there was a tabled item that Mr. Motion call this evening meeting of the planning committee Mr. Mr. Wagner item roll call this evening meeting of the planning committee Mr. Scott to order please Mr. Wagner motion call this evening meeting of the planning committee to order this evening Mr. Mr. Wagner Mr. Mr. All right. Put building in the back here with

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Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Council did not approve that. The adoption process last week amendments. This one

amendment to take out back. done that process evaluated how we impact others. Uh so conditions with uh patterns around the city that a little bit um we have many apartments and condos they all average and an average about 9 units which is a lot higher. So that wasn't actually whether they were done before that was in place or they see it like do that. So just want to show a few examples of apartments around the city. Place apartments on wood 91. It's about a 5.3 acre property that 63. Um couple that right next to each other garden. uh Cypress apartments and these are just a few examples.

It's just not consistent with how to keep more consistent that does not carry. Another reason why we're trying to put this back in that because development city process area missing others shops restaurants. So we created this overlay with regulations to allow that issue development to happen organically. But a big part of that was planning peruse development ground for commercial residential property. Um so having 16 units per acre especially in this area on the smaller lots would basically that clear variances but the variances they need to be based on an actual hardship. uh some um you know some something with the property that not just mortgages um so if it's being based on variances easily be denied um if they're not meeting so average lot size in the MOC is about8 acres units which is just not reasonable use

development Lots of time developers aim for 240 US per acre uh to be economic economically feasible and support ground for commercial business. A few examples of these types of developments in some country um ground commercial for residential love. This is actually something that can meet our design requirements and be located in our city. Uh this one's at 43.3 units per two units. Um you know even if this was on a 28 or they had 25 units that still bring it up to 20 units per acre approximately. So just another reason why we need to eliminate that density gap more flexible development another site recreating this whole camp uh district. If it's wildly successful, we can see development on the street piece of land. Not saying it's going to happen, but it's another potential site where we can see a mixeduse development here. Uh it's probably about 4 acres. So, also with this code, um this cat doesn't give us a bunch of highrises. There are still height requirements. There are height transition requirements for the providing you know single family uses. Uh we have more robust design building design standards that they have to follow space requirements social gather space requirements. So all these factors you know they come together when developing species that prevent them from becoming overgrown uh compatible developments for the area. Another very important thing to remember

is that these are still conditional uses. We still have to go through the process of council approval. Um conditional the R2 and R3 district multif family comments and then the multif family above ground floor and districts. uh conditional use criteria uh pretty standard but there are any know there's a lot of power behind them what what the deniability can be um you know they have to provide adequate utilities they cannot be traffic uh not be normal development surrounding area so there can always be an argument they're just requesting way too much there's always an argument that we you know another goal of this code update was to follow follow water and zoning code practice uh focus on form not just numbers. So that's why we that's why we pumped up our design guidelines and landscaping um parking circulation requirements. We want to focus on quality design this code. Given the limited number of land that we have available for development or redevelopment, we just want to make sure that everything's high quality development done. I've also learned that six schools per acre to support additional housing diversity um and the feasibility of doing mixed use developments and also realize what we went through process with that main questions um wased

the senior living off of Hudson. Yeah. Yeah. Part of Yeah. What was the density? That's a multitory building. What kind of density?

Oh, that one. Um I don't know I think that was done under like a facility via a separate use so I don't would you look at that type of building under the same parameters uh that one I'm not sure how that one went through whether it's multi family I think I'm pretty sure the assist development needs to follow the multif family regulations. So effectively 20 Sorry. Is timing of us doing this? human because we have maybe passing something that I think pretty controversial without. Yeah, I was only made aware today only three today. Uh there's no rush right now. There's no pending projects that apply to this budget. So I understand that five people think

something like this because this is significant going back to what we originally proposed. uh the city council and state and trying to do the other way. So I I think we need all I'm happy to still have the discussion with you tonight about it.

Yeah, I have no problem with that. I just really like our decision. show. So, couple of questions. Keep going back to this area and I don't understand and I've said this all along. Why do we keep getting into this like anywhere? Your church isn't going anywhere. Holy Family isn't going anywhere. CVS isn't going anywhere. The realtors aren't going anywhere. Where are we going to get this area where people can walk across the street 59? Uh I don't see that that's either my guessing forest for the trees here. So based on my review there, I mean it is possible. It would take a significant investment for somebody who wants to do it. Um but again, this is a response to a lot of public comment that I've always heard since I started working here. You know, this was identified as an area that has the most walkable potential in the area. This is city center. Uh 91 has great, you know, local shops, you know, right on 91. And uh 59 and 91 shops there, you know, ramped up and and that corridor of 91, it is possible to be caught up. It's not like we have any plans now, but we want to have regulations in place. So, it does happen by the same

thing. I mentioned experiences. I know there's been a lot in the past and I understand you know it's based on the years um transes should be based on hardships or difficulties uh unique circumstances and prevention. Um so main commission council DCA you know they all have reason to make sure correctly so should be just because they want more units. Yeah. Okay. How are living? Very similar. A lot of you know else.

No. And since he's here, I wasn't going to Yeah, I have that. I'll anyone in the audience here commenter 378 snowshoe circle lifetime res on December 4th 2025 city of snow council voted unanimously on amending the planning and zoning code 2025-208 which included There's five amendments to the proposed changes. We're thankful for council member Kelly Coffee for thoroughly analyzing proposed changes and proposing amendments that make sense. There were multiple public workshops, steering committees, meetings held that were open to the public. Basically, attendance was minimal and most likely 99.5% of the citizens trust the council to represent their best interest. The main zoning changes pertain to the density of multif family dwellings and units per acre. Kelly coffee proposed an amendment to the proposed zoning changes limiting the number as to a reasonable number based on citizen handling. The vote was 64 and one day was Kyle. Now it's almost 4 months later. I see there's a proposed amendment 2026-00007 on the March 24th, 2026 planning commission agenda to remove the maximum density of multif family dwellings per acre. The scuttle is a council to represent the citizens of STO again on December 4th, 2025 the council voted 6 to1 set in limit six dwellings were anchored. What was the common denominator here? Could it be opponent pushing

council president pushing the Zen the planning director for this change. I find it suspicious that the vote on December 4th, 2025 was 6 to1 the density unit per acre and now they're trying to slip this back in almost 4 months later. If the planning commission approves this, it will take your 5 to2 vote by the council to overturn this approval. Please tell me where the citizens were not represented in the second floor 258. Apparently 29% of the housing units and 9.8% vacancy rate. They still really need unlimited multif family per acre. That doesn't sound like that would be great for poverty values. I would bet anything that really voted fail following a rental percentage last round in the citiz 11.6 to 12% probably 17 to 18% falls 36% 58 to 60%. Do we want sto become? I don't think the citizens would vote for that. In my opinion, 39% seem to be sufficient. Apparently, I'm requesting the planning commission not approve. In summary, I don't think we can guarantee that we're going to have multi and where are you going to be a parking lot? But on December 4th, the summary on December 4th, 2026, the council voted 6 to1 to amend the proposed zoning of unlimited gate. Council represent their constituent with exception of one and therefore the people of Stom smoke. Planning director is not an elected official. Planning director does not live in Stow and pay

does not pay any real estate tax. And don't tell me this doesn't increase potential crime. Just look at silver meadows or look at department roads at least to see where the crime is. Don't tell me it doesn't decrease the value of homes though. My personal opinion is Kyle Herman and we're also looking for the 29% 29% of housing and rental 9.8% vacancy permission to vote this amendment now started on December 4th. Thank you. Anyone else 2444 Shadow Lane is I agree with Mr. 69 or less you're going to get fewer people if you have it. If you try to squeeze more people in, number one, you're going to have infrastructure problems where you're going to get a lot of the things going. But I thought we still want to have more similar family. That's why we moved here 25 years ago. That's all. Thank you very much.

property many members and the council I've had many over the years. It's not an easy thing to keep it safe. It's daunting at times to wonder if it'll be worth the investment. We've invested, I would guess, a few million dollars in modern threebedroom dealer properties. They have been a success for us in the city of ST. And there's another side. We've attracted uh a tenant to clientele that has been I would say a benefit to serve not I build houses and they've done great things we have every place has vacancies I don't agree with 10% vacancy I don't see the 10% vacance So good. They house a university. The university setting is not what we have. We have an old fashioned town that's very modern. Part of modernization has changed every day. We set things in a static way. All we're going to do is keep it the way it was. Good old days. Good old days never come. All we have is a bunch of gold. what the economy is more fresh and invigorating things. I think that whoever the young people are that's going to put this ahead of us and they need community laws and rules to allow them to bring this into a modern city like other cities like you go out there and you look at parts of the dining there it's going to be it's not the same

old farm community it once was snow is once a far I know many of the people that had let me build their homes and new home brand new homes are there and the point of that is changes in that and whether we admit it or not we have to have rules and I think that the one credit and the one point I would make is we need realistic stuff so these so that when you're building and you're trying to propose a pitch which I'm not doing I've got enough I'm not wanting to go through all those hurdles and look at all the huge changes to build this building you need to have a bunch of other things you're going to make or plea to say. I promise I think rules should be tidy. They should be beautiful. Everybody should have the same rules. But I think we need to be fair and understand this town is growing. It's becoming better. It seems like everything they're doing around the city and the operations and our infrastructures are getting better. So the last thing we should do rolling this stuff back to say let's go back to the good old some good things right now and I think it's up to people like you council members to take us to the next we have laws in place to allow that. So, I want to thank you for listening to me. My excitement in this stuff you guys 3447 Saratoga Boulevard. Um, it is Thank you. First off, I just wanted to say I think it's an embarrassment that we would have any citizens of our city treat other people as less than. Um, everybody that lives here belongs here and we should make them feel. Um, next I just want to point out I'm a

LAS. My parents are landlords there. My two sisters are landlords there. For many years we had a lot of partners. What I can tell you is the partners are vital for young people who are just starting out. Um, it brings live to the city. Look at how it falls every street lightly every single every single day now the way that it's been structured. And that's what we need in our community. We need folks that are willing to come here, start their lives as young people, and then go into the community when they're ready to buy their first. Um, I've never had a problem with yes, every now and then you get somebody that doesn't pay rent, you got to toss them out. But you know what? Let's not let's not um put all those people under one umbrella. 365 Avenue.

Yes, sir. uh and thank you both for your service on the steering committee and everything that you do and uh I know that it's frustrating when the commission makes recommendations and council doesn't always know there are a lot of reasons sometimes for those there negotiations going on between the city developers and things like that whether it's trouble uh and of course there's always agree with each other and uh in this case I would encourage you to watch the board meeting and it's clear that there were some of the amendments that were being proposed and uh that this uh cop was part of a larger amendment in which this was not even really talked about. Most of the discussion focused on uh whether uh unit homes on our main roads uh should be conditional or not and whether or not they should have uh additional red tape and have to go uh through city council in addition to their vision. uh and uh I think it's clear from what was said in the December fourth meeting that uh the motives behind this really weren't consistent with uh the recommendation of the council meeting. We all discussed as a steering committee asked the public input that we received that was supportive of the idea of allowing uh the long-term development of a mixed use district and that is consistent with uh the 2017 comprehensive plan that encourages this. This was one of the reasons that uh council uh engaged consultants originally in trying to update the code but then receive a diagnostic report in June 2022

that uh encouraged uh allowing a mixeduse uh district and uh encouraged diversifying our housing supply. Uh it's demographically unhealthy for any city to be a city of entirely still homes and we work really hard on the steering committee to make sure that we're protecting the integrity of our single family neighborhoods while allowing some strategic areas to have things like condos that uh especially younger people be able to afford because we are in a regional housing crisis. And the reason that our housing uh costs and our property taxes have been increasing is because we don't have enough supply to meet demand. And so personally I come from this this perspective. So our our property values are inflated because we only have enough housing supply. And so if we are able to increase the demand by diversity housing supply especially to like allow more families to be able to work in the city especially what's going on with property taxes at the state level the city needs to be able to increase income taxes because of the tofully cut the property tax that we need younger families and businesses that are able to produce that income. And so yeah, uh but uh happy to answer any questions uh as we go through this. Uh but I I just want to try to uh clarify uh the background behind us, which you're very familiar with. And uh if you haven't seen an analysis by the branch about how the density map uh

affects the long-term plans to achieve this book, uh I could uh help you I get that as well. But uh I think that what is happening here understanding in which most of the council even after the vote expressed that they were supported of the downtown district and had not understood the implications of that as I wasn't here in the summer to vote on that, but um I was campaigning for council last year and walking many this came up over and over again. So, you want something that this plan was proposing and I said, well, something voted on and they've been working on it for 2 years. I do know um with consultants citizen in the wood and a lot of work that was and was on track to to go into place and when um I saw the the last meeting in December. Um it was very confusing those were added and not a lot of discussion her not what happened is basically with those

amendments she negated the entire uh purpose of the two years of money that was spent and time involvement of everybody that was So bigger backwards already mentioned in a January meeting he gave a very detailed explanation situation if you don't have a copy of that as Do you see 91? I guess

yeah in the city um in all the other commercial areas are night traffic they pop up sometimes in other cities and he plazas I know my location something this for this cipher development. Uh again, most of it is filled out now. So probably not much room in the future, but generation. I don't know. I do have that tonight. All right. Well, there's a lot to be considered and uh I really want the entire commission to be involved in this. I will this address it has been moved and seconded that we table DC 2026-0074.04

Roll call, please. Mr. Wagner. Yes. Mr. Basic.

Yes. Motion. Anything else? Next application is PC 26-8. another tech amendment responsibility council uh in December. So this one applies to the minor plane development overlay uh specifically the letters which are highlighted uh these are all taken out of these regulations. Uh so the minor development applies to that are 10 acres or less minor that's overlay development basically. Uh so with a minor play development background the same uh purpose of it is another tool code uh just provides more flexibility for development where code regulation norm we can't account for everything so challenging project district are various for development locally on that property um And in doing so, um those are treated as modifications rather than variances. So each modification that they're not meeting in the zoning code have to

identify those justify those modifications and baseline standards regulations for that specific overlay state. Uh we process predictability the applicants transparent public city council. Um so yeah this process allows these unique develop without having to give based on um sorry these are just these site offline not again just couple ideas that it's not road landscape requirements. So video res same thing requirements um modification standards. So they don't meet the code requirements the modification standards are decision uh so that they have to make the building silver certified certified. The second one is development.

They make a certain percentage of affordable units are by federal level development. Um also that has successful design include residents and there's other category where they don't want to do those for commercial development other propose their own benefit which could be you know increased landscaping property um high quality things like that you like. Uh you know a lot of these are needed without it. There's no there's no standard at this point in one and not have to be back. Um still supports high quality, high quality design and as far as site planning um sites have constraints for um grading all these properties. This just provides more trust development. Uh prevents reliance and um relying on variances and also restoresed version processors. that any question.

Were there any No, there will be seconded. tablecr

Mr. Mr.

Yes. Quick question. Uh last meeting there. several members. What other We have these two ones that need to be directed later. Uh the other ones were um the version that you saw uh there's five boxes were limited for many uses that they rented by certain areas of the city. uh council that was chang so loud. So

the design system process Yeah. September 3 months. probably I don't know why it happened last meeting everyone want to pl commission council members just encourage everyone to read it provide feedback early on so we can address it before it gets to the final stages but yeah we we don't have a reason why it happened that way but we Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.